Mary Kay Adams, Bach Festival’s executive director and principal flutist, is also principal flutist in the Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra. She has played flute in the Roanoke Symphony and was principal cellist of both the Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Smith (AR) Symphony. Active as a soloist and chamber musician on both flute and cello, she has performed at conventions of the National Flute Association and Music Educators National Conference. Her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in flute and cello performance are from the University of North Texas, where she did additional doctoral work in flute performance. A member of the music faculty at Eastern Mennonite University, Adams has played in the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival orchestra since it began in 1993.

Previously, she was the assistant director of the honors program at James Madison University; a music faculty member at JMU, Bridgewater College, Mary Baldwin College, Washington and Lee University, Liberty University, and Arkansas Tech University; a flute and cello instructor in the preparatory music program at EMU; and a freelance performer and teacher in the Dallas metropolitan area.